Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Assassination
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After creating it, he threw her into the hunting grounds.
Hwang So-uk's mind was on the verge of collapse from the slave life where she was treated like an inescapable beast.
But due to her high Mental Strength stat and coercive force, she couldn't even go mad.
Hwang So-uk regretted accepting Kang Hyun-soo's proposal.
So every time she met Kang Hyun-soo, she begged him to kill her.
But Kang Hyun-soo had no intention of granting her request.
A monotonous daily routine like a hamster on a wheel.
Among them, what tormented Kang Hyun-soo the most.
Was eating the poison grass.
Kang Hyun-soo spent painful hours every day, steadily chewing the poison grass sent by the Golden Lord Saemaal, multiple times a day.
Thanks to that, her Poison Resistance stat, which had been at 1, rose quickly.
But the stronger it got, the more potent the poison in the grass she had to eat became.
'It's incredibly bitter.'
Today too, as Kang Hyun-soo chewed the poison grass while enjoying(?) her ordinary daily life, good news arrived.
It was the news of Crown Prince Rodius II's dethronement.
Even the Emperor's faction nobles, including the Fifth Duke faction, strongly opposed it.
'He sure has resolve.'
Emperor Rodius I boldly removed Rodius II from the crown prince position.
However, he maintained his imperial family status.
And.
He immediately appointed the newly imperial Cecilia as crown princess.
The next emperor of the Rokto Empire had changed overnight.
Because he's a bastard.
Because she's a woman.
It's absurd to pass the throne to a granddaughter when there are sons.
Numerous oppositions surged.
But no one could overturn Emperor Rodius I's firm decision.
'I never thought I'd take control of the Rokto Empire this easily.'
From Kang Hyun-soo's perspective, it was the best possible news.
However.
As the saying goes, good fortune is always accompanied by misfortune.
A week later, bad news struck Kang Hyun-soo.
-My lord, Emperor Rodius I has passed away.
Kang Hyun-soo jumped in surprise at the report from Cecilia, who had become crown princess.
-Emperor Rodius I is already dead?
-Yes.
One might think there were no issues since he named Cecilia as successor before dying.
'But Cecilia's position isn't solid yet.'
She had absolute support from the neutral nobles.
'Among the three factions, hers is the weakest.'
The largest forces were the Emperor's faction and the Fifth Duke faction.
Even among the Emperor's faction, who should be allies, many opposed.
The Fifth Duke faction, in direct opposition to Rodius I, openly rebelled.
'It's a problem if he dies this soon.'
Rodius I wasn't supposed to die yet.
He should have turned the Emperor's faction nobles into Cecilia's limbs, crushed the Fifth Duke faction's momentum, and then died.
Moreover.
'Something's off. This is too fast.'
Unlike before regression, Rodius I's health had deteriorated quickly.
But he lived with all sorts of tonics and items beneficial to the body, so he wasn't in a state to die suddenly.
'No matter the variables shortening Rodius I's lifespan compared to before regression.'
This level of drastic reduction was suspicious.
-Was it assassination?
-We can't rule it out, but we don't know yet.
-I'll head to the Rokto Empire.
Kang Hyun-soo halted hunting and rushed to the Rokto Empire.
On the way.
Another incident erupted.
Evidence was found that Emperor Rodius I of the Rokto Empire had been assassinated.
The culprit was caught.
The evidence was a nerve toxin.
The culprit was a maid serving Crown Princess Cecilia.
And the culprit confessed to serving Rodius I food laced with nerve toxin on Cecilia's orders.
The Fifth Duke faction fiercely denounced Crown Princess Cecilia as a traitor to family.
They declared their intent to enthrone the former crown prince Rodius II as the next emperor.
And raised their armies.
'What the hell.'
Kang Hyun-soo, receiving situation reports en route to the Rokto Empire.
'That madman Rodius II.'
Instantly grasped the situation.
That utter degenerate.
'Went mad for the throne and killed his father.'
And allied with the Fifth Duke faction, his father's enemies, no less.
* * *
"Where is Rodius II?"
Kang Hyun-soo, arriving in the Rokto Empire, urgently asked Cecilia.
"He has already fled the palace and joined the Fifth Duke faction's army."
As expected.
"What about our forces?"
"Sword Saint Rojas Duke has called the Royal Guard knights, but over half have refused. The central army only has the 1st and 2nd Legions responding; the rest haven't answered."
Cecilia's name had been added to the imperial registry less than a month ago.
She was appointed crown princess just a week ago.
In normal circumstances?
With Emperor Rodius I dead, the Emperor's faction forces and troops should fully follow the next emperor, Cecilia.
But.
'They refuse to acknowledge Cecilia as emperor.'
That was why the dethroned Crown Prince Rodius II and the Fifth Duke faction acted so hastily.
The longer time passed, the zero chance Rodius II had of claiming the throne.
'Sane people would think Cecilia had no reason to assassinate Rodius I.'
But what mattered now wasn't sanity.
'It’s power.'
History is written by the victors.
If the Fifth Duke faction won?
Cecilia would be recorded as the wicked woman who threatened and murdered her grandfather Emperor Rodius I to usurp the throne.
If Cecilia won?
Rodius II would be the traitor who killed his father out of grudge for his daughter taking the throne.
"The war situation is unfavorable. How many troops does the Fifth Duke faction have?"
"Not exact, but even lowballing it, nearly 500,000."
"Ours?"
"Combining the 1st and 2nd Legions fully, just 100,000."
The Rokto Empire had 21 regular legions total, with over a million troops.
Yet only two legions moved on Cecilia's orders.
The remaining 19 legions stayed silent.
"What about the neutral nobles' forces?"
"Scraping them all together, about 100,000. But how many will respond is unknown."
Our side, even scraping tightly, barely under 200,000.
Likely to shrink further.
Meanwhile, the rebels at minimum 500,000.
Likely to grow.
"Impressive."
Rodius II and the Fifth Duke faction's scheme worked perfectly.
All regular legion commanders were Emperor's faction nobles.
Naturally, they should follow the next emperor Cecilia's orders.
But.
'No one clings to legitimacy like Emperor's faction nobles.'
Bastard with slave blood.
Not a son, but a granddaughter.
Better for the dethroned Crown Prince Rodius II to be next emperor—looks proper.
'And good for their own interests.'
They had to move swiftly.
Dragging it out?
Some of the 19 legions meekly neutral, watching, might join the Fifth Duke faction.
Then?
The already disadvantaged troop gap widens drastically.
'I tried to avoid civil war.'
Before regression, the Rokto Empire fell due to Cecilia's civil war.
Thus, after regression, he made efforts to prevent civil war in the Rokto Empire.
'I thought putting Cecilia under me and Rodius I changing his mind would make it easy.'
Things got tangled.
'End the civil war in the shortest time.'
And seize the opportunity.
'Wipe out the Fifth Duke faction.'
Then Cecilia could firmly grasp imperial power.
'Better this way.'
Better to eliminate future headaches early.
"You know what you need to do?"
"Yes."
Cecilia was the legitimate successor acknowledged by Rodius I.
She had no reason to assassinate him.
'Legitimacy and justification are on our side.'
Rodius II and the Fifth Duke faction thought they could crush with force.
'But we have the edge in power.'
Kang Hyun-soo moved.
Using Doppelganger summons.
To infiltrate the rebel camp and eliminate Rodius II or the Fifth Duke.
Then.
Kwaaaang!
A massive explosion rang out.
Immense mana surged.
Chaeng! Pa-gang!
The clash of metal echoed.
"Block the rebels! Protect Crown Princess Cecilia with your lives!"
"Behead the traitor Cecilia and return the throne to the rightful heir!"
Sword Saint Rojas Duke's shout and an unknown player's voice spread across the palace via mana.
"Ha!"
Kang Hyun-soo was dumbfounded.
'You hate civil war too, huh?'
If hundreds of thousands clashed in civil war?
Even rebel victory would be a pyrrhic glory.
The way to seize the Rokto Empire's throne with minimal losses.
Was decapitation.
Kill Cecilia?
No civil war.
'Only half the Royal Guard follows Cecilia.'
The 1st and 2nd Legions following Cecilia's orders were units defending key points en route to the capital.
Palace interior defense by Royal Guard knights and guards, capital defense by capital legions.
'The capital legions didn't respond to Cecilia.'
Likely testing the waters.
From rebels' view?
Sweep Sword Saint Rojas Duke, his Royal Guard knights and guards.
Then easily behead Cecilia and seize the palace.
'They made a great choice.'
A bright smile bloomed on Kang Hyun-soo's lips.
If done right.
'We could suppress the rebellion in a day.'
Kang Hyun-soo stepped outside.
"Waaaaah!"
Royal Guard knights and guards fiercely battled rebels defending the inner palace.
But at a glance, the knights and guards were being pushed back.
Kwaaang! Kwaaang!
Sword Saint Rojas Duke was also surrounded by two players, desperately defending.
Taak!
Kang Hyun-soo leaped into the air, his whole body.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Dyed in blood-red aura.
Whiiik!
The moment Kang Hyun-soo swung his sword.
Kwaaaang!
A massive explosion erupted, claiming hundreds of rebels' lives.
"A named player!"
"Get him!"
With the rebel commanders' shouts, a swarm of players charged at Kang Hyun-soo like bees.
'First, even the numbers. Summon legion.'
Kang Hyun-soo summoned only humanoid summons.
Saaaaak!
And.
'Wipe them out.'
Issued the command.
Doppelganger King Taliman holding colonel rank, Fist Emperor, Martial Sovereign, Guardian Star of No Ran, Blade King at the forefront.
Followed by humanoid summons as battalion commanders, company commanders, platoon leaders, squad leaders.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Pajijijik! Hwaruruk!
Various auras and attack skills flared.
In an instant.
"Aaack!"
"Monsters!"
"Spare me!"
A one-sided massacre unfolded.